The document summarizes recent retail news from North America, the United Kingdom, and Asia Pacific regions. It also discusses retail technology and workforce management strategies. Some key points include Lowe's launching a home improvement app, Collective Brands planning to close underperforming stores, and overseas retailers being attracted to opportunities in Australia.

1. Retail Insights
September 2011
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2. North America News
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3. Lowe’s launches iPhone and iPod app
• Lowe’s has launched a home improvement app for iPhone and iPod, now available on
the App Store
• The Lowe's App allows consumers to research and purchase products, locate stores,
watch how-to videos, review product ratings, and more
Source: http://www.retailingtoday.com/article/lowe%E2%80%99s-launches-iphone-and-ipod-app;
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4. Collective Brands to close 475 underperforming stores
as it considers selling itself
• Collective Brands, parent company of Payless and Stride Rite shoe chains is planning to
close 475 underperforming stores over the next three years
• The strategy, said Collective, is to optimize the performance of its Payless and Stride
Rite stores
• The company currently operates 4,844 stores, of which 4,461 are Payless stores
Source: http://www.retailingtoday.com/article/collective-brands-close-475-underperforming-stores-it-considers-selling-itself;
4 | ©2011, Cognizant

5. Target puts final Canadian plans in motion
• Target's entry into Canada is nearing completion, as the company finalized its real
estate transactions
• Target's venture into Canada began in January when the company announced that it
had agreed to pay C$1.825 billion to purchase from Zellers Inc., a subsidiary of the
Hudson's Bay Company
• Target plans to open 125 to 135 stores in Canada, the majority of which will open in
2013, beginning with the first cycle in March
Source: http://www.retailingtoday.com/article/target-puts-final-canadian-plans-motion;
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6. Wal-Mart bringing back layaways for holiday shopping
• Wal-Mart Stores will introduce a holiday layaway plan from Oct 17 to Dec 16
• If the program is successful, Wal-Mart said it may extend it throughout the year
• Sears, Kmart, Toys R Us, Best Buy, T.J. Maxx, Fashion Bug, Victoria's Secret and Kay
Jewelers are a few retailers who offer layaway option
• Layaway option is also available as a feature in the POS system, making functionality
integration much easier
Source: http://www.retailingtoday.com/article/wal-mart-bringing-back-layaways-holiday-shopping;
http://blog.jdapos.com/blogjdaposcom/bid/46396/The-Re-Return-of-the-Layaway;
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7. United Kingdom News
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8. UK Retailers Prepare for Another Wave of Closures
• Britain’s high street retailers hit by multiple waves of closures
• Sales figures dropped by 2.2% year-on-year in August for mid-market retailers
• Top reasons for sales drop
o London Riots
o Volatile Stock Markets
o Poor Weather
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/05/high-street-braced-more-closures; http://www.bdo.uk.com/press/2011/9/riots-deal-
bitter-blow-august-high-street-sales;
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9. UK consumers plan to shift to discounters
• A monthly survey, conducted by IGD, the retail research body, has found that 29pc of
consumers planned to do more of their shopping at discount stores
• IDG expects five key trends shaping the discount retailer market:
oBuilding authority in food
o Deeper supplier engagement
o Increased shopper appeal
o Online development
o International expansion
Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/8733876/Discount-stores-set-to-take-customers-from-
supermarkets.html; http://www.igd.com/index.asp?id=1&fid=1&sid=7&tid=10&cid=2104;
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10. M&S plans major stores facelift
• Marks & Spencer is to embark on its second major store revamp in two years to boost
its in-house brands and food offerings
• The company has allocated £600 million to help to make the 703-strong chain of shops
easier to navigate
• M&S also plans to make the retailer's own brands (Per Una, Limited Collection and
Autograph) more distinctive
Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5iOdUw_B1x4xXhBNI8RmX0cyM4kug?docId=N0315451315742034516A;
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11. Asia Pacific News
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12. Overseas retailers attracted to Australia
• Major Australian retailers have bucked the gloomy worldwide retail forecasts
• Harvey Norman, Woolworths, Wesfarmers and JB Hi-Fi all reported higher profits in
2010-11
• IBISWorld analysts expect Australia's retail spending to be three per cent higher than
last year
Source: http://www.smh.com.au/business/overseas-retailers-attracted-to-australia-20110912-1k5au.html;
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13. Retail Technology
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14. Aberdeen - Next Generation Retail Store-Level
Workforce Management Strategies
• Legacy WFM not meeting customer expectations and cost
factors
• Customer-centricity is the top reason driving workforce
management efforts
• Retailers expect WFM to help align staff schedules with business
needs and standardize workforce management across the
organization
• Time & Attendance Integration with Scheduling and Self-Service
Scheduling training are the top capabilities with retailers;
Introducing direct linkages between in-store scheduling and key
corporate goals is planned future capability
Source: Aberdeen - Next Generation Retail Store-Level Workforce Management Strategies
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15. SymphonyIRIGroup - Digital Dimension - Consumers
Embrace Digital Media with Diverse Approaches
• Digital media has catalyzed connectivity to new levels, allowing users to engage in a
plethora of applications designed to make life simpler and marketing more direct and
connected
• One in two consumers leverage traditional grocery shopping list-making tools. However,
in a world where there is an “app” for everything, more consumers are leveraging new
media tools for making their shopping lists
• Young consumers are much more likely to use Internet-based list making tools versus
other consumer trends
Source: SymphonyIRIGroup - Digital Dimension - Consumers Embrace Digital Media with Diverse Approaches
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16. Industry Research Highlights
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17. Consumer Perceptions of Online Registration and Social
Sign-In
• 75% of customers bothered by website
registrations and will change their online
behaviour
• While registering, 76% have given
incomplete / incorrect information
• When login information is forgotten, 45%
leave the website instead of resetting
password
• Social sign-in is considered as a desirable
alternative
• Social sign-in users purchase more online
Source: http://www.shop.org/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=164&name=DLFE-820.pdf;
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18. Thank You
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